Lions QB Orlovsky hopeful for another chance

AP PhotoLions quarterback Dan Orlovsky replaced the injured Jon Kitna and had Detroit on the cusp of its first victory of the season.

MINNEAPOLIS -- In spite of another loss, it just might be the beginning of the Dan Orlovsky era as the starting quarterback of the Detroit Lions.

At least Orlovsky thinks so.

"It's my mindset right now that this is my football team," he said after a 12-10 defeat Sunday to the Minnesota Vikings in his first NFL start.

"Absolutely."

It's up to Lions coach Rod Marinelli to decide what happens next.

Orlovsky was forced into the lineup when No. 1 quarterback Jon Kitna was ruled out for the Vikings game because of back spasms.

Kitna did not make the trip to Minnesota.

In his place, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Orlovsky, a fourth-year quarterback from Connecticut, nearly helped lead the Lions to their first win of the season.

He had his share of ups and downs.

He eluded the grasp of Vikings defensive end Jared Allen late in the first quarter but made the mistake of running out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

He rallied the team, however, at the start of the second half.

Orlovsky marched the Lions down the field on the opening possession of the third quarter and capped the 10-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson. Orlovsky even spiked the ball in an emotional outburst.

It put the Lions ahead 10-2 at the time.

"I was prepared. Zero butterflies," Orlovsky insisted.

He finished 12-of-21 passing for 150 yards, no interceptions and a 95.3 passer rating, although the Vikings did sack him six times.

"He fought. He did the right things. He'll get better," Marinelli said.

It's not clear if it's enough to keep Orlovsky in the starting lineup for a road game against the Houston Texans next weekend.

Marinelli would not comment on the matter.

In the meantime, Orlovsky intends to prepare as if he's the starter.

"I take pride in that. I told the guys afterward, we will win here. I went up to (Lions COO Tom Lewand) and told him we'll win here," he said.

"I really believe that."

He just wishes it had been a much happier ending.

"It hurts to walk out of here after controlling the game for 58, 59 minutes," Orlovsky said. "Other games, we didn't look like a football team, but we showed up for this game."